Tyrrell Hatton overcame three bogeys on a frustrating back nine to card a two-under 70 and take a one-shot lead in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship second round on Friday.
The Englishman, who has twice won the tournament, started the day at 8 under and looked in control with two early birdies before tough windy conditions saw him bogey the 10th, 13th and 16th holes at Kingsbarns, ending the day on 10-under for the tournament.
Compatriot Daniel Gavins sank an eagle on the par-five 14th to move into second place with a 4-under 68 at Carnoustie, while former Masters champion Danny Willett made the most of a lightning start — two birdies and an eagle in his first three holes — to stand two shots back following a round of 69.
The championship is being held across three courses in rotation over the opening three days — the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns — with the final round to be played at St Andrews.
Tommy Fleetwood, who played alongside Hatton in Europe’s Ryder Cup defeat at Whistling Straits last week, carded a one-under 71 that tied him for fifth at seven-under.
Irishman Shane Lowry was four shots off the pace after a solid round of 5-under 67.
The 2021 Formula 1 World Championship is an exciting one, but whilst it is the most closely contested season in a very long time, it is also one of the more frustrating as well.
The reason that I feel this way is because the course of this season has been influenced by your organization issuing Technical Directives (TD) over and above the F1 Regulations, but unlike the Technical, Sporting and Financial Regulations that are published on the FIA website; it is FIA policy not to publicly disclose the TD’s to the chagrin, not just of I but of many.
Like many F1 fans, such as my friends here in the Grand Prix 247 community, my passion for the sport of F1 is one that runs much deeper than just ‘the show’ and I have a real interest in its technical matters, however, whilst there is no denying that issuing TD’s is indeed justifiable and necessary, I would challenge you as to why it is necessary to not publicly disclose them.
During the progress of this F1 season your organization has issued TD’s on the following matters;
Rear wing rigidity
Tyre operating parameters
Slowing down pit stops
As I have already mentioned I agree that TD’s are necessary, and indeed are issued as a result of the queries mostly from F1 teams seeking further direction on technical matters. However, it is impossible for those who choose F1 as their sport of interest to be entirely informed when they are precluded from having access to TD’s as they are relevant to topical discussions when they are issued.
Of course, I do agree that at times there is the potential for sensitive information, such as technical aspects related to a person or teams own intellectual property, that would not be suitable for public disclosure, but as in many other documents of a comparable nature, a simple redaction of that sensitive information would be all that is necessary.
It is very frustrating at times for patrons of the sport to know that they are precluded from access to a TD by policy, whilst factions of the media openly discuss the TD and its contents, at the same time publicly admitting that the directive was deliberately leaked to them by an undisclosed member of an undisclosed team.
In 2013 Sky F1’s Martin Brundle asked then FIA F1 Race Director, the late Charlie Whiting, in a broadcasted interview about why TD’s were not publicly disclosed, and Charlie quite openly admitted that he knew of no reason why they should not be and that the FIA had discussed this possibility in a positive manner several times previously.
If I can indulge you further on this, you would be aware of the FIA Statutes, and Article 1.3 of them that states,
1.3 The FIA shall respect the highest standards of governance, transparency, and democracy, including anti-corruption functions and procedures.
In the pursuance of the FIA Statutes, are the best interests of transparency served by not publicly disclosing TD’s?
In conclusion, I am not discounting the need for technical directives in F1 as I believe that they serve a very important function in the manner with which a very technical sport is regulated.
However, I do think that it would only be in the best interests of us, the patrons, media, and fans of this wonderful sport, that Technical Directives’s are publicly disclosed so that we can all understand the regulative process in a more informed manner.
Yours Sincerely,
Mark Kay on behalf of the GRAND Prix 247 and the F1 community.
SAN DIEGO — The LA Clippers are mourning the death of a video assistant in the organization’s digital content group.
Assane Drame, 26, died in a car accident Monday night. The native of Blackwood, New Jersey, had just worked earlier Monday at the team’s media day.
Drame joined the Clippers in 2019 as a video intern and rose to video assistant.
“The Clippers organization mourns the loss of Assane Drame, a dedicated employee, a talented videographer and a loyal friend,” the team said in a statement. “He was a hard worker and a gentle soul, passionate about his craft and kind to his colleagues, earning the respect and admiration of players, coaches and staff.”
Drame’s death came as a shock to the organization, which is holding training camp in San Diego. Players including Terance Mann and Nicolas Batum tweeted their respects once they heard the news.
A graduate of Rowan University, Drame is survived by his family in New Jersey.
Quebec is loosening some COVID-19 restrictions for sports and cultural venues with assigned seating starting next month, the province’s health minister said Thursday.
Christian Dubé unveiled the latest change to the government’s public health rules during an update on the pandemic’s fourth wave.
“We want Quebecers who are adequately vaccinated to be able to find a bit of normalcy,” he said.
Facilities with assigned seating will be able to operate at full capacity as of Oct. 8. The new rules apply to cinemas, theatres, conferences and graduation ceremonies, as well as Montreal’s Bell Centre in time for the Habs first home game next month.
Quebec to give 3rd dose of vaccine to seniors in long-term care homes
Quebec to give 3rd dose of vaccine to seniors in long-term care homes
There are some restrictions, though. Spectators must show proof of vaccination and masks will be mandatory to access venues operating fully.
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Groupe CH, the organization behind the Montreal Canadiens, said in a statement it is “delighted with the provincial government’s decision.” It pledged to uphold other sanitary measures in place to curb the spread of the virus.
CF Montreal also welcomed the news in a statement, saying it will allow the soccer club to play its remaining games at Saputo Stadium at full capacity as of Oct. 8.
Culture Minister Nathalie Roy also announced that orchestras and choirs will be able to accommodate up to 100 people on stage. Singers and anyone who plays a wind instrument must maintain a two-metre physical distance from others, while other musicians must be at least one metre apart.
Dubé said the province fared well throughout the month of September, which he had previously described would be “decisive” during an evolving fourth wave of the health crisis.
The health minister added it is too early to declare victory in the fight against COVID-19 or to lift the 10-person indoor gathering limit inside private homes.
Dubé also urged those who have not yet rolled up their sleeves to go get their novel coronavirus vaccine, saying October will also be a challenge in the context of the pandemic.
Brazilian football great Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pele, arrives at Guarulhos International Airport, in Guarulhos some 25km from Sao Paulo, Brazil, on April 9, 2019. (Photo by NELSON ALMEIDA / AFP)
Brazilian football legend Pele was released from a month-long hospital stay Thursday after having surgery for a colon tumour, but will continue undergoing chemotherapy, his medical team said.
Pele, 80, had been receiving treatment at Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo since August 31, after a suspected tumour was detected during routine tests.
Pele, who underwent surgery on September 4, is in “stable” condition, doctors said.
The hospital did not use the word “cancer” in its statement and gave no further details on Pele’s chemotherapy, but the treatment is typically used in cancer patients. The results of his biopsy were not made public.
“I am so happy to be back at home,” Pele said in a statement on Facebook.
“I want to thank the entire Albert Einstein Hospital team, who made my stay a pleasant one, with a humane and very affectionate welcome. Thanks also to all of you, who from afar, make my life complete with so many messages of love.”
“When the road is hard, celebrate every step of the journey. Focus on your happiness. It’s true that I can’t jump anymore, but these past few days, I’ve been punching the air more often than usual,” he wrote.
Considered by many the greatest footballer of all time, Edson Arantes do Nascimento — Pele’s real name — has been in poor health in recent years, and has had various stints in the hospital.
The only player in history to win three World Cups (1958, 1962 and 1970), he burst onto the global stage at just 17 with dazzling goals, including two in the final against hosts Sweden, as Brazil won the World Cup for the first time in 1958.
“O Rei” (The King) went on to have one of the most storied careers in sport, scoring more than 1,000 goals before retiring in 1977.
‘Face it with a smile’ Pele’s daughter Kely Nascimento has provided fans with updates on her father’s condition during his hospital stay, posting pictures and videos on social media — of them playing cards, or the footballer singing the anthem of Santos, his former club.
Last week, his daughter said he had taken “several steps” towards recovery after his operation.
On Saturday, Pele praised “outstanding” Lionel Messi for breaking his record as the top goal scorer in a South American national team — and apologized for the delay in offering his congratulations due to his medical treatment.
“When life imposes a challenge, it’s always easier to face it with a smile,” Pele wrote on his Facebook page Wednesday.
Pele has shied away from public life in recent years.
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic — which to date has left nearly 600,000 people dead in Brazil — he isolated at his home in Guaruja on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, using social media to promote vaccination.
A documentary on Pele’s life was released on streaming platform Netflix at the start of the year, with recent video showing the former sportsman moving slowly with the aid of a walker.
Despite having the opportunity to mock his British rival, Fury was quick to say he wouldn’t be “slagging anyone off” after such a defeat.
“I will not kick anyone while they are down,” the Gypsy King told reporters. “I have no interest in kicking someone who is down and maybe suffering mentally after such a long reign.
“There’s no secret or rocket science to winning a rematch, fighters try to make it technical, downloading data and all that bulls**t.
“And if it’s not going well then change it up and do something different.
“Don’t be a coulda-shoulda-woulda man.
“My advice to Joshua is to get stuck in, put his front foot forward and swing away, swing away.”
Joshua has a rematch clause with Usyk, which he has reportedly already triggered – according to the Ukrainian’s trainer – in the hopes of repeating his trick with Ruiz and winning his unified champion status back at the first time of asking.
Yesterday we ran the report: “Ferrari tensions mount as Binotto and Leclerc clash” which according to the Scuderia’s media office is without substance and fake news.
Sourced from an Italian F1 blogger who has previously been first, and correct, with Ferrari related news which we thus ran in good faith. However, the alleged incident did not occur and thus I made incorrect assumptions based on what was not facts which, in retrospect, we should have checked with the team’s media office before going live.
It was pointed out to us that the “so-called argument between Mattia and Leclerc is fake: it has never happened. It’s been reported on his blog by a certain Antonio Granato who has never seen anything (well, it was not possible to see something that never happened), never sought for confirmation, and was not even in Monza.”
The post has been unpublished and redirected to this post. The original source remains here>>>
In our defence, we were promised photo evidence of the altercation, that did not happen between Charles Leclerc and his boss Mattia Binotto, which has yet to arrive, and by the sound of it won’t.
Nevertheless, for the inconvenience and pain caused, as Editor, I apologise to Ferrari, Tifosi and our readers for the lapse in judgement which we will do our best to avoid in future.
Please note that this apology was not coerced or forced on us by any means other than an email from the Ferrari media office pointing out the hard truths and leaving it for us to decide how to tackle the ‘fake news’ that crept into our site.
Qatar was announced today as the latest addition to this year’s Formula 1 calendar in November, along with a ten-year agreement to host F1 races starting from 2023.
With uncertainty surrounding several F1 venues this year due to Covid-19, races in Canada, Australia, Japan, and Singapore were cancelled. Turkey was slotted in to replace Canada and a TBC slot was left in November.
Now that slot has been officially filled by a race in Qatar on November 19-21 ahead of the first ever race in Saudi Arabia on December 3-5. The season will be concluded in Abu Dhabi on December 10-12. This means that the final three races this season will be held in the Arab Peninsula. Qatar has also agreed with Formula 1 to host races starting 2023 and for a duration of 10 years.
Qatar has long been interested in getting involved with F1, with rumors previously linking the rich Arab State with a possible purchase of Formula 1. That however did not materialize and Liberty ended up taking over the sport.
The Qatari Grand Prix – sponsored by Ooredoo, the state owned international communications company – will be held at the Losail International Track, famous for hosting MotoGP races since 2004.
Statement
Formula 1: “There was a strong will from Qatar to be helpful to F1, and in the course of this process, the vision for a longer partnership was discussed and agreed for 10 years.
“The step from the gesture to be helpful to F1 in 2021 to a long term strategy was short and simple and the vision for F1 to be the showcase for Qatar after the FIFA World Cup in 2022 was the driving force behind this long term agreement.
“As part of the longer-term deal, discussions will continue regarding the location for the Grand Prix from 2023 with further details to be provided at a later time.”
F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali:”We are very pleased to welcome Qatar to the Formula 1 calendar this season and for the longer term from 2023.
“The Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation and Authorities have been incredible and have moved at great speed to ensure the race can take place this season at the Losail Circuit, famous to many as the host of MotoGP.
“We have shown that we can continue to adapt and there is huge interest in our sport and the hope from many locations to have a Grand Prix. The huge effort from all the teams, F1 and the FIA has made it possible to deliver a 22-race calendar, something that is very impressive during a challenging year and something we can all be proud of.”
Abdulrahman Al-Mannai, President of Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation: “This is a very special day for Qatar Motorsport and our nation’s ambitions as a host of major sporting events.
“I’m very proud that we’ve been able to support Formula 1 by stepping in and hosting a race in our country in such a short time frame, while also securing a ground-breaking long term deal with F1.
“This exciting agreement means that Qatar will be the home of both Formula 1 and MotoGP for the next decade, which are the pinnacle events in global motorsport. We have a proud motorsport history and this is the next chapter for us. Qatar will be a great destination for F1 and we look forward to welcoming all the drivers, teams, media and fans very soon.”
Jean Todt, FIA President: “I congratulate Formula 1, the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation and the Qatari authorities, who have worked tirelessly to quickly and efficiently make the inaugural Grand Prix in Qatar happen in these challenging times.
“The Losail International Circuit, which will welcome the race, has been working closely with us to ensure they are full prepared for this momentous occasion. We are very proud of this collective achievement. I thank the QMMF President Abdulrahman Al-Mannai and His Excellency Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, Minister of Culture and Sports, for their involvement.
“This commitment to F1 for the long term, as well as the organisation of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and many other international events, is another example of Qatar’s strong passion for sport.”
I will never forget that sinking feeling in my stomach on September 22, 1991 in the Estoril pit lane as I watched Nigel Mansell’s right rear wheel detach from the FW14 right in front of me.
The wheel bounced straight towards the Tyrrell team who were readily waiting for one of their cars to come in. Luckily the wheelman that was bowled over was not seriously injured.
Ever since the 2021 Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix a month ago, there has been greater media scrutiny on pitstops during races due to the FIA introducing a new technical directive aimed at slowing down the stops on safety grounds.
Earlier this season, during the flexible wing affair and whilst Red Bull were seemingly gaining the performance ascendancy in the period after the Spanish Grand Prix, Mercedes approached the FIA seeking clarification on technical aspects related to specific mechanisms used by other teams on their wheel guns.
The FIA’s response was to issue the new technical directive, TD22A, with the intent of reducing the risk of cars being released from the box without wheels being properly secured.
To appreciate why it was necessary to issue TD22A, it is important to understand what the final steps were in the sequence of events when changing the wheels of an F1 car before its release prior to the new TD being introduced.
In recent years it has become standard practice for F1 teams to use very light, powerful, and technologically advanced wheel guns. Each gun is connected to the pit release light system in the gantry, and a software package runs a specific algorithm that will turn on a very bright green LED on the gun when the system is satisfied that the wheel is indeed adequately secured.
When the crew member operating the gun receives that green signal, they then press a button that will signal for the jack to be released, which is then signaled to the jack person once all four buttons have been pressed. The jack signal button only becomes live in the loop once the gun LED is on, but it becomes live instantly.
Some teams, such as Red Bull, worked out that the human reaction time could be negated in signaling the jack release because the release button did not necessarily need to be pressed in sequential order after the green LED, because if it were pressed earlier, it would still register the very instant the green LED illuminated.
With the introduction of TD22A, what the FIA have done is to not only ensure that the jack release button is now sequential to the wheel secure LED, but even when it is pressed, a pre-programmed ‘human factor’ time of 0.2 seconds has been included before the signal for jack release is illuminated.
However, the perception that TD22A is specifically aimed at neutralizing Red Bull’s performance advantage in pitstops does not quite seem valid when considering the following passage from the FIA’s 2021 Formula One Technical Regulations,
12.8.4 Devices which are used to fit or remove wheel fasteners may only be powered by compressed air or nitrogen.
Any sensor system may only act passively.
In considering the very last part of the final sentence, “only act passively”, it is plainly evident that in introducing TD22A the FIA is rightly underpinning the very intent of the technical regulations.
By removing the ability to pre-press the jack release button, the system can only act passively.
Since its introduction at Spa, there have been several painfully slow stops, and some teams have directly attributed the cause to TD22A, but in time, they will all adapt. F1 will always innovate and be at the forefront of technology, and so a way will be found to reduce pitstop times even more, in good time.
Nevertheless, with the technical regulations now being bolstered by TD22A, it could only be a good thing that the risk of cars being released with a wheel not properly secured is mitigated even further.
Wheels bouncing down pit lane across a circuit of cars competing, or over the fence and into the crowd is not an image F1 wants to be associated with.
Media days kick off Monday, officially ushering in the start of training camps around the NBA. The dust has finally settled from free agency, and September training camp kickoffs will mark the first normal schedule in two years.
The biggest news surrounding training camp comes out of Philadelphia, where Ben Simmons has vowed to never play another game for the 76ers. The three-time All-Star has asked for a trade out of Philadelphia and will not report to the start of training camp, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Elsewhere, star players will get their first reps with their new teams.
Where does that leave all 30 teams as they head into training camp? What are the biggest changes following our post-free-agency Power Rankings?
Note: These rankings are based on where the members of our panel (ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Nick Friedell, Andrew Lopez, Dave McMenamin, Kevin Pelton and Ohm Youngmisuk) think teams belong heading into next season. Title odds for 2022 by Caesars Sportsbook.
Having a training camp with the full roster will be a boon for Nets coach Steve Nash after the midseason additions of James Harden and Blake Griffin last season. While Harden was able to fit in seamlessly on the fly, Brooklyn will get more practice time with all three stars after he played just 332 minutes — including the playoffs — with both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, per NBA Advanced Stats. Sorting out how Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge and newcomers James Johnson and Paul Millsap fit into a revamped frontcourt will also be key. — Pelton
Due to the star power surrounding the Nets and Lakers, the Bucks have the benefit of coming into this season without the burden of being expected to defend their title. One thing to watch here? The play of Grayson Allen, who could be an interesting complement to Donte DiVincenzo at shooting guard after coming to Milwaukee in an offseason trade with Memphis. — Bontemps
The season opens up with a new big three as the main attraction in L.A., with Russell Westbrook teaming with LeBron James and Anthony Davis to put the Lakers back into championship contention. The Lakers got an early start with a trip to Las Vegas, a minicamp organized by James that was more about team bonding than intense court work, according to sources. — McMenamin
Phoenix’s NBA Finals trip last season fell short of the ultimate goal, but there was very little turnover in the desert — it shouldn’t take much for Monty Williams to get his team to buy in. Landry Shamet and Elfrid Payton join a Suns backcourt that lost a little bit of depth (Jevon Carter, Torrey Craig, E’Twaun Moore, Langston Galloway) and will look to acclimate themselves with Chris Paul‘s Point God ways as quickly as possible. — Lopez
Most of the Jazz’s rotation remains intact, with all of the starting lineup and the top two finishers in Sixth Man of the Year voting returning to Salt Lake City. But Utah hopes that it upgraded its bench, signing Rudy Gay and Hassan Whiteside, and trading for Eric Paschall. It will be interesting to see how much Quin Snyder tinkers with Gay as a center in small-ball lineups, which wasn’t an option with last season’s personnel. — MacMahon
Kyle Lowry, P.J. Tucker and Markieff Morris figure to fit in nicely alongside Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and the rest of a proud Miami team that comes into the season with championship expectations. The question for Erik Spoelstra is how quickly all these pieces can come together and how much the veteran core needs to be paced for the grind of an 82-game season. A big key will be determining how much of an impact Victor Oladipo is going to have during the season while he continues to rehab from a quad injury. — Friedell
Perhaps no reigning MVP has flown further under the radar than Nikola Jokic. While the Nuggets will need another MVP-like season from Jokic to contend, Denver’s chances of being a top-four team in the West likely rest on Michael Porter Jr.’s shoulders. With Jamal Murray out for an extended period of time due to a torn ACL suffered in April, Porter will have to continue his ascension. He averaged 19.3 points and 7.3 rebounds as a starter last season and is capable of averaging a double-double while shooting 45% from 3 this season. — Youngmisuk
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Take a look back at the highs and lows of Ben Simmons’ time with the 76ers.
The NBA’s biggest storyline entering training camp resides in Philadelphia, where the basketball world is waiting to see if Ben Simmons shows up — and if the 76ers decide to move on from him. Simmons has declared he will never play for the Sixers again, while Philadelphia is waiting to get a star-level return for its 25-year-old three-time All-Star with four years remaining on his contract. Until one side budges, this stalemate will continue. — Bontemps
The biggest question for Atlanta during training camp is going to be how the Hawks replicate last season’s success after a surprising run to the Eastern Conference finals. Atlanta had a question mark at the backup point guard spot, leaning on Bogdan Bogdanovic at times to fill that role in the playoffs. The Hawks addressed that by scooping up Delon Wright in a three-way trade with Sacramento and Boston. — Lopez
Klay Thompson‘s rehab and ability to get back on the floor close to his old All-Star self is the key to any major success the Warriors have this season. But as Steve Kerr & Co. wait for the former All-Star to get healthy, the key for the Warriors will be the development of lottery picks Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, while hoping that 2020 No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman can take another step in his own development as he continues to recover from a meniscus tear that ended his season early and will sideline him for the opening of this season. — Friedell
What changes will new coach Jason Kidd make? Kidd has some lineup decisions to make, choosing whether he wants to play big with Maxi Kleber or Dwight Powell next to Kristaps Porzingis, or play a smaller lineup that includes free-agent addition Reggie Bullock. It will also be interesting to see how Kidd uses Porzingis, who was frustrated with his often limited role under Rick Carlisle. More importantly, how well is Porzingis moving after a full healthy offseason? His lack of mobility made him a defensive disaster last season. — MacMahon
With Kawhi Leonard out for possibly a good chunk of this season while he makes his way back from a partially torn ACL, the Clippers will try to maintain their playoff standing until he returns. Paul George is poised for a big season after lifting the Clippers to the Western Conference finals with Leonard out. Reggie Jackson will look to sustain his playoff-level performance while the Clippers take a closer look at younger players like Terance Mann and Luke Kennard and new additions Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson, Jason Preston and Brandon Boston Jr. — Youngmisuk
Everyone knows the Celtics will go as far as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown take them. That being said, the preseason will see three intriguing arrivals in Boston: Ime Udoka, who replaces Brad Stevens as the team’s head coach, and guards Dennis Schroder and Josh Richardson, both of whom are looking to bounce back from disappointing seasons. — Bontemps
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Kemba Walker expresses how excited he is to join the Knicks and jokes about whether he’ll be playing back-to-back games this season.
New York City native Kemba Walker returned home this summer, immediately agreeing to a deal with the Knicks after being bought out by the Oklahoma City Thunder, who acquired the guard from the Boston Celtics in June. Walker’s health, especially after missing the final couple games of Boston’s first-round series against the Brooklyn Nets with knee issues, will be a big topic of discussion the next few weeks ahead of a reunion with his old team at Madison Square Garden on opening night. — Bontemps
There will be a lot to cover in a short period for first-time head coach Chauncey Billups, who is installing a new system at both ends as he replaces Terry Stotts after nine seasons in Portland. The Blazers’ starting lineup, one of the league’s best after the midseason addition of Norman Powell, remains intact. But Portland’s second unit has added veterans Ben McLemore, Larry Nance Jr., Tony Snell and Cody Zeller. We’ll be keeping a close eye on possible improvements to the Blazers’ defense, 29th on a per-possession basis last season. — Pelton
Steven Adams, who will fill Jonas Valanciunas‘ role as starting center after they were swapped in an offseason trade, is the Grizzlies’ graybeard at the ripe old age of 28. This Memphis core got its first taste of the playoffs last season, but it’s a group that is still early in the developmental stages. The Grizzlies’ best hope to make a jump is for Jaren Jackson Jr., only 22 years old entering his fourth NBA season, to fulfill the potential he flashed before suffering a knee injury in the bubble and sitting out most of last season. — MacMahon
Indiana’s major offseason change was swapping out first-year head coach Nate Bjorkgren for veteran coach Rick Carlisle, who is starting his second stint as the Pacers’ leader. The Pacers also have to look at how to best keep their roster healthy. Several key players have missed time recently because of injuries or illnesses. But a healthy lineup featuring Malcolm Brogdon, Caris LeVert, T.J. Warren, Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner could do some damage in the Eastern Conference. — Lopez
The Hornets have a young core already in place alongside veterans Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier — now they have to see how Kelly Oubre Jr. fits in and hope that rookies James Bouknight and Kai Jones can have an impact, as well. Oubre had an up-and-down season a year ago with the Warriors, but at 25 years old, he has a chance to find a nice niche on a Charlotte group that needs the energy he can bring on both sides of the ball. — Friedell
After spending almost 20 months away from home, the Raptors will finally return to Toronto on Monday for the start of training camp. And while the Raptors will certainly be glad to be back home after spending last season in Tampa, the biggest story in camp will be about a guy who was also playing in Florida last season: forward Scottie Barnes, the No. 4 pick in this year’s NBA draft out of Florida State. With Pascal Siakam out to start the season after undergoing shoulder surgery, can Barnes earn Siakam’s starting spot until he returns? — Bontemps
Chicago had one of the organization’s most interesting offseasons in recent memory with the acquisitions of DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso — but the key for Billy Donovan coming into training camp is seeing how those pieces, along with holdovers Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic and Patrick Williams, can work as a defensive group. There are few doubts around the league about whether the Bulls will score, but there are many doubts about whether the Bulls will be able to defend at a high enough level to win consistently. — Friedell
With Russell Westbrook traded to the Lakers, Bradley Beal will have to get used to several new pieces around him in camp. New coach Wes Unseld Jr. will have little time to mesh Spencer Dinwiddie, Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Aaron Holiday around Beal. Daniel Gafford will also have his first camp with the Wizards. Health remains a big issue for this franchise, with Thomas Bryant and Deni Avdija making their way back from injuries. Can Beal get this team back to the playoffs? He certainly has more vets around him and ones motivated to prove people wrong. — Youngmisuk
The youth movement in San Antonio is underway. The three Spurs who have been in the league the longest — Thaddeus Young, Al-Farouq Aminu and Doug McDermott — were all acquired this offseason. The Spurs parted with DeMar DeRozan via sign and trade, and watched Rudy Gay and Patty Mills walk away in free agency. Dejounte Murray (15.7 points) and Derrick White (15.4 points) are the two leading returning scorers as the Spurs shift into a new era. — Lopez
Kings coach Luke Walton has a handful of talented guards at his disposal with first-round pick Davion Mitchell joining De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield. Sacramento could find itself regularly employing three- or even four-guard lineups in order to have its most talented team on the floor. — McMenamin
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Ramona Shelburne discusses the Timberwolves’ decision to part ways with Gersson Rosas.
A mostly quiet Minnesota offseason was thrown into turmoil last week when Gersson Rosas was dismissed as president of basketball operations. The search for Rosas’ replacement could overshadow what happens on the court during training camp. It’s Chris Finch’s first camp in charge after he replaced Ryan Saunders midseason. Finch’s system, the development of former No. 1 pick Anthony Edwards and the return of D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns quickly appeared to pay dividends as the Timberwolves went 7-5 over their last 12 games, beating a handful of playoff-bound teams. — Pelton
It’s all about Cade Cunningham. The No. 1 pick’s ascension — or lack thereof — will determine Detroit’s destiny over the next half decade or more. Coach Dwane Casey will have to figure out with whom, beyond Jerami Grant, it will be best to have Cunningham operate. — McMenamin
While the past few years have been about developing Cleveland’s backcourt in Collin Sexton and Darius Garland, now the spotlight will shine on the center position with No. 3 pick Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. The Cavs will have to find out if the two true bigs can share court time or if they will have to split minutes this season. — McMenamin
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Jalen Green got the better of first overall pick Cade Cunningham with 25 points against the Detroit Pistons.
Houston would be a serious contender in a 21-and-under league. The Rockets will bring eight players that young to their training camp in Galveston, Texas, five of whom are teenagers, including all four of their first-round picks. This season is all about the development of Houston’s young core, led by the starting backcourt of 21-year-old point guard conversion project Kevin Porter Jr. and No. 2 overall pick Jalen Green, which is why the mutual decision was made for John Wall to sit and wait while the Rockets try to trade him. — MacMahon
Aside from the ongoing rehab process for Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz, the big early question for the Magic revolves around rookie Jalen Suggs and the impact he’ll be able to have early in his first season. Suggs had some nice moments at summer league and has the ability to energize a fan base that is yearning for some excitement. — Friedell
Thunder training camp will be our first extended look at No. 5 overall pick Josh Giddey, who played just five minutes of summer league in Las Vegas after suffering an ankle injury. With the youth of the Oklahoma City roster, winning games won’t likely be a priority this season. Instead, the Thunder’s goals relate to developing their prospects. The growth of Theo Maledon and Aleksej Pokusevski in Year 2 will be worth watching, as will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s return to full health after plantar fasciitis ended his 2020-21 regular season and kept him out of Olympic qualifying. — Pelton
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